Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
The taxidermists are enthralled, not least because their skills are about to be given the sort of show they could only dream about. From this weekend, Berlin's natural history museum is to exhibit Knut – the city's late-lamented and once world-famous polar bear, who collapsed and drowned in his zoo enclosure two years ago after a brain haemorrhage.
Knut won international renown after his mother rejected him in 2006 and he had to be raised by his keeper, who died of a heart attack two years later. The bear attracted millions to Berlin Zoo and at the height of his fame appeared on the front of Vanity Fair. This time however, the ursine star will be appearing stuffed and glass-eyed in the clinical surroundings of a natural history museum. "We are, after all, a scientific establishment," said a spokeswoman.
But not everyone is happy about Knut's second coming. When the plan to stuff the bear's carcass and put it on display was first announced it provoked emotional protests from fans, who said the idea was degrading. "When a close friend of yours dies, you don't have him stuffed and put in a glass box," argued one protester, who took part in a "Stop Knut Being Stuffed" demonstration outside the zoo.
Fear of protests may be one of the reasons why Berlin's natural history museum has decided to put Knut on show for only a month to start with. The stuffed bear will no doubt be put under guard. He is not scheduled to go on permanent display until 2014.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments